2024 Air, Space & Cyber Conference | Videos, Transcripts

Monday, September 16

Keynote Address:
Implementing Change to Prevail in Great Power Competition

— Frank Kendall, Secretary of the Air Force

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Keynote Address:
One Air Force

— Gen. David W. Allvin, Chief of Staff of the Air Force

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Failure is Not an Option: Confronting the Modernization Challenge

— Andrew Hunter, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics 
— Frank Calvelli, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition and Integration
— Gen. Michael Guetlein, Vice Chief of Space Operations
— Gen. Jim Slife, Vice Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force

Moderator: Kirk Rieckhoff, Leader of McKinsey & Company’s Public Sector Aerospace and Defense Practice

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The Digital Enterprise

— Peter Kunz, Vice President and Chief Engineer for Boeing Defense, Space & Security’s Air Dominance Division
— Mark Andress, Global Vice President, Defense and Intelligence, Oracle
— Sean Moriarty, CEO, Primer AI

Moderator: Maj. Gen. Kim Crider, USAF (Ret.), Founding Partner, Elara Nova

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United Forces and Families: Shaping the Guardian Experience

— Cathy Bentivegna, Spouse of the Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force
— Aimee Selix, Co-Founder, Guardian Spouse Candid Conversations
— Jessica Norsky, Key Support Liaison Mentor for Delta 1

Moderator: Debbie Schiess, AFA’s United Forces & Families (F2) Member

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The China Problem

— Dr. Brendan Mulvaney, Director, China Aerospace Studies Institute, Air University
— Dr. Kevin Pollpeter, Director of Research, China Aerospace Studies Institute, Air University

Moderator: J. Michael Dahm, Senior Resident Fellow for Aerospace and China Studies at AFA’s Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

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Space Domain Awareness

— Murali Krishnan, Vice President and General Manager for the Payload and Ground Systems Division at Northrop Grumman Space Systems
— Christopher Long, Deputy General Manager & Vice President of Space Systems for the Space, Cyber and Intelligence Systems Line at General Dynamics Mission Systems
— Kay Sears, Vice President and General Manager of Space, Intelligence & Weapon Systems at Boeing Defense, Space & Security

Moderator: Maj. Gen. Gregory Gagnon, Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Intelligence, U.S. Space Force

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Cyber Dominance

— Chris Cleary, Vice President of ManTech’s Global Cyber Practice
— Stephanie Domas, Chief Information Security Officer, Canonical
— Jen Sovada, President of Global Public Sector, SandboxAQ

Moderator: Venice M. Goodwine, Chief Information Officer for the Department of the Air Force

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The Wars We’re Fighting

— Lt. Gen. Michael Conley, Commander, Air Force Special Operations Command
— Lt. Gen. Adrian Spain, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations
— Lt Gen Douglas A. Schiess, Commander, U.S. Space Forces – Space and Combined Joint Force Space Component Commander, U.S. Space Command 

Moderator: Tobias Naegele, Editor in Chief at AFA’s Air & Space Forces Magazine

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Live, Virtual, and Constructive: Preparing for the High-End Fight

— Matt George, Founder and CEO, Merlin Labs
— Cathy Johnston, VP, Mission Integration, Peraton
— Mike Benitez, Director of Product for Hivemind, Shield AI

Moderator: Maj. Gen. Clark Quinn, Deputy Commander for Air Education and Training Command

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Hacking the Acquisition Bureaucracy

— Rupak Doshi, CEO, Co-Founder, OmniSync
— Robert Fehlen, Chief Strategy Officer, Mobilize VISION
— Bryon Kroger, Founder and CEO, Rise8

Moderator: Alexis Bonnell, CIO and Director, Digital Capabilities Directorate, AFRL

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Space as the Supported Command

— Air Marshal Paul Godfrey, Assistant Chief of Space Operations for Future Concepts and Partnerships, USSF
— Rear Adm. Heidi Berg, Deputy Commander, Fleet Cyber Command and Deputy Commander, Navy Space Command
— Rob Atkin, Vice President, General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems Group
— Robert Lightfoot, President, Lockheed Martin Space

Moderator: Gen. Kevin P. Chilton, USAF (Ret.), Explorer Chair, AFA’s Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies Spacepower Advantage Research Center

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Air Dominance

— Jenna Paukstis, Vice President General Manager, Networked Information Solutions Division, Northrop Grumman
— Renee Pasman, Vice President, Integrated Systems for Advanced Development Programs, Lockheed Martin
— Elaine Bitonti, Vice President & General Manager, Connected Battlespace & Emerging Capabilities, RTX

Moderator: Maj. Gen. David Shoemaker, Director of Operations, Air Combat Command

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The AI Passport

— Alexis Bonnell, CIO and Director, Digital Capabilities Directorate, AFRL
— Lt. Gen. Franco Vestito, Director of the Italian Air Force Personnel Department
— Air Cdre Nikki Thomas (UK), UK Air & Space Attaché to the United States

Moderator: Gen. David Goldfein, USAF (Ret.), 21st Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force

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Keynote Address:
Understanding the Threat in an Infinite Game

— Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force David A. Flosi

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Tuesday, September 17

Keynote Address:
State of the Space Force

— Gen. B. Chance Saltzman, Chief of Space Operations

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Keynote Address:
Enlisted Space Force

— Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force John F. Bentivegna

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The Dangers We Face

— Gen. Gregory M. Guillot, Commander, U.S. Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command
— Gen. Timothy D. Haugh, Commander, U.S. Cyber Command
— Gen. Stephen N. Whiting, Commander, U.S. Space Command
— Gen. Jacqueline Van Ovost, Commander of U.S. Transportation Command

Moderator: Lt. Gen. David A. Deptula, USAF (Ret.), Dean of AFA’s Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

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United Forces and Families: Creative Childcare Solutions

— Lt. Col. Maria Quinn, Military Child Care Advocate
— Leslie Janaros, Co-Founder, Five & Thrive
— Lesley Smith, Air Force Services Center Chief of Air Force Child and Youth Programs
— Chief Master Sgt. Israel Nuñez, Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chief of Air Force Reserve

Moderator: Melissa Shaw, Vice Chair, AFA’s United Forces & Families (F2) and Civilian Guardian working for USSF HQSF SF/S1C

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Pilot Shortage: A Chronic Problem

— Lt. Gen. Adrian Spain, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations
— Lt. Gen. Brian Robinson, Commander, Air Education and Training Command
— Maj Gen Randal Efferson, Acting Commander, Air National Guard Readiness Center
— Gen. Jeffrey L. Harrigian, USAF (Ret.), Vice President of Strategic Campaigns for Aeronautics Strategy & Business Development, Lockheed Martin

Moderator: Heather Penney, Senior Resident Fellow, AFA’s Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

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Keynote Address:
Preparing & Prevailing in the Indo-Pacific

— Gen. Kevin B. Schneider, Commander, Pacific Air Forces

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Standing Up the New Commands

— Air Marshal Paul Godfrey, Assistant Chief of Space Operations for Future Concepts and Partnerships, USSF
— Lt. Gen. Brian Robinson, Commander, Air Education and Training Command
— Lt. Gen. David Harris, Deputy Chief of Staff, Air Force Futures
— Lt. Gen. Dale White, Military Deputy, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics

Moderator: Lt. Gen. Burt Field, USAF (Ret.), President & CEO, AFA

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Transitioning to the F-35: Lessons and Approaches

— Lt. Gen. Michael Schmidt, PEO and Director, F-35 Lightning II Program
— Maj. Gen. Regina Sabric, Commander, 10th Air Force
— Maj. Gen. David G. Shoemaker, Director of Operations, Air Combat Command

Moderator: John Tirpak, Editorial Director at AFA’s Air & Space Forces Magazine

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Igniting Our Story: The People Behind the Platform

— Sam Eckholm, Aerospace & Defense Content Creator
— 2nd Lt. Madison Marsh, Miss America 2024
— SMSgt. Julia Valenzuela, Congressional Liaison, Space Force ISR Programs Manager

Moderator: Alex Wagner, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Manpower and Reserve Affairs

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Next-Gen Air Combat

— Gen. Duke Richardson, Commander, Air Force Materiel Command
— Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach, Commander, Air Combat Command
— Lt. Gen. David Harris, Deputy Chief of Staff, Air Force Futures

Moderator: Lt. Gen. David Deptula, USAF (Ret.), Dean of AFA’s Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

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United Forces and Families: Family Readiness for Great Power Competition

— Col. Charlie Norsky, Commander, Delta 1
— Lt. Col. Sharon Arana, Sword Athena Lead at Air Combat Command
— K.C. Erredge, Air Reserve Personnel Center Lead Key Spouse

Moderator: Heba Abdelaal, AFA’s United Forces & Families (F2) Member

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Space Dominance

— Joe Rickers, Vice President of the Connectivity, Transport, and Access Mission Area, Lockheed Martin
— Dan Ourada, Vice President, Captures & Business Development, Amentum
— Matt Brown, Executive Technical Director for ASDS, RTX

Moderator: Air Marshal Paul Godfrey, Assistant Chief of Space Operations for Future Concepts and Partnerships

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Deterring Russia in the Arctic

— Gen. James B. Hecker, Commander, U.S. Air Forces in Europe
— Lt. Gen. Case Cunningham, Commander, Alaskan Command, U.S. Northern Command
— Maj. Gen. Jonas Wikman, Air Chief of the Swedish Air Force
— Major General Øivind Gunnerud, Chief of the Royal Norwegian Air Force

Moderator: Maj. Gen. Larry Stutzriem, USAF (Ret.), Director of Research at AFA’s Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

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The Future of Weapons Development

— Scott Alexander, President, Missile Solutions, Aerojet Rocketdyne, L3Harris
— Randy Fields, Chief Technology Officer for Ultra Intelligence & Communications
— Maj. Gen. Stephen T. “Steve” Sargeant, USAF (Ret.), CEO, Marvin Test Solutions
— Michael D. Rothstein, Vice President of Strategy and Requirements, Air Weapons and Sensors for Lockheed Martin Corporation’s Missile and Fire Control business area

Moderator: Col. Ronald Dunlap III, head of the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s Air Dominance Division

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50 Years of the F-16

— Brig. Gen. Tad Clark, Commander, 31st Fighter Wing
— Gen. Gary North, USAF (Ret.), Vice President for Customer Requirements, Lockheed Martin
— Col. Dean Stickell, USAF (Ret.), Former Commander, 16th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron and 432nd Tactical Fighter Wing

Moderator: Maj. Gen. Charles Lyon, USAF (Ret.), former Director of Operations, Headquarters Air Combat Command

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Wednesday, September 18

Manning the Space Force: A New Model

— Katharine Kelley, Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Human Capital, U.S. Space Force
— Brig. Gen. Nathan D. Yates, Mobilization Assistant to the Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Operations, Cyber, and Nuclear, the Pentagon
— CMSgt Todd Scott, Senior Advisor to the Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force

Moderator: Jennifer Reeves, Senior Resident Fellow for Space Studies, AFA’s Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

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AI-Informed Logistics and Supply Chains
— Matt George, Founder and CEO, Merlin Labs
— Col. Louis Ruscetta, USAF (ret), Director of USAF Mission Success, Virtualitics
— Justin Woulfe, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer of Systecon

Moderator: CMSgt. Robert Berrier, Senior Enlisted Leader HAF AF/A4

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21st Century Jet Propulsion Imperative

— Dr. Michael R. Gregg, Director, Aerospace Systems Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory
— Chris Flynn, Vice President of Military Development Programs, Pratt & Whitney
— David Tweedie, GE Edison Works Vice President and General Manager for Advanced Products

Moderator: Maj. Gen. Larry Stutzriem, USAF (Ret.), Director of Research at AFA’s Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

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Ukraine, Russia War: A Prelude to Future Conflict

— Air Marshal Allan Marshall, Air & Space Commander (ASC), Royal Air Force
— Gen. Jeffrey Harrigian, USAF (Ret.), Former commander, U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa
— Lt. Gen. Dave A. Deptula, USAF (Ret.), Dean of AFA’s Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies
— Maj. Gen. Charles Corcoran, USAF (Ret.), Former Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations

Moderator: David A. Ochmanek, Senior International/Defense Researcher, RAND

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Live, Virtual, and Constructive: Preparing for the High-End Fight

— Mike Manazir, Vice President, Business Development & Strategy for Mobility, Surveillance & Bombers, Boeing
— Dan Ourada, Vice President, Captures & Business Development, Amentum
— Doug Gill, Senior Staff Scientist, FSI Defense

Moderator: Maj. Gen. Gregory Kreuder, Commander, 19th Air Force

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Electronic Warfare Dominance

— Maj. Gen. David M. Gaedecke, USAF (Ret.), Senior Executive Advisor, Booz Allen Hamilton
— Richard “Moose” Haas, Director, USAF Business Development, Epirus
— Joshua Niedzwiecki, Vice President and General Manager of Electronic Combat Solutions, BAE Systems

Moderator: Brig. Gen. Leslie “Toro” Hauck, DAF’s Director, EMS Superiority Directorate (A2/6L)

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The Nuclear Imperative

— Melissa Dalton, Under Secretary of the Air Force
— Gen. Anthony J. Cotton, Commander, U.S. Strategic Command
— Gen. Thomas A. Bussiere, Commander, Air Force Global Strike Command
— Lt. Gen. Andrew J. Gebara, Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Deterrence and Integration

Moderator: Maj. Gen. Doug Raaberg, USAF (Ret.), AFA’s Executive Vice President

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Collaborative Combat Aircraft

— Maj. Gen. Joseph Kunkel, Director, Force Design, Integration and Wargaming
— Dave Alexander, President, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.
— Robert Winkler, Vice President of Corporate Development & National Security Programs, Kratos Defense and Security Solutions
— Jason Levin, PhD, Senior Vice President for Air Dominance and Strike, Anduril Industries

Moderator: Mark Gunzinger, Director, Future Concepts & Capability Assessments at AFA’s Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

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Cyber and Communications: Gaining the Edge in Great Power Competition

— Dr. Wanda T. Jones-Heath, Principal Cyber Advisor for the Department of the Air Force
— Lt. Gen. Leah Lauderback, Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance and Cyber Effects Operations
— Air Commodore David Clyde, Commander, Cyber Forces Group, Australian Defence Force
— Brig. Gen. Zachary Shay Warakomski, Senior Cyber Officer of the U.S. Space Force

Moderator: Maj. Gen. Kim Crider, USAF (Ret.), Founding Partner, Elara Nova

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Exercising for Great Power Competition

— Gen. Kevin B. Schneider, Commander, Pacific Air Forces
— Gen. John D. Lamontagne, confirmed to be Commander, Air Mobility Command
— Lt. Gen. David N. Miller, Commander, Space Operations Command
— Lt. Gen. John P. Healy, Chief of Air Force Reserve, and Commander, Air Force Reserve Command

Moderator: Lt. Gen. David A. Deptula, USAF (Ret.), Dean of AFA’s Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

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Securing the Industrial Base

— Scott Sendmeyer, Acting Director, Office of Policy, Analysis and Transition, OASD(IBP)
,— Liz McNally, Deputy Director of Commercial Operation, Defense Innovation Unit
— Col. Michelle K. Idle, Deputy Commander, Space Systems Command
— Richard Aboulafia, Managing Director, AeroDynamic Advisory

Moderator: Doug Birkey, Executive Director at AFA’s Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

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Missile Warning

— Jeff Schrader, Vice President, Strategy & Business Development of Lockheed Martin Space
— Rob Mitrevski, Vice President and General Manager, Spectral Solutions division, L3Harris Technologies
— P. Len Orlando III, Sr. Business Development Executive, Ansys

Moderator: Jennifer Reeves, Senior Resident Fellow for Space Studies, AFA’s Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

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B-21 Update

— Gen. Thomas Bussiere, Commander, Air Force Global Strike Command
— Maj. Gen. Jason Armagost, Commander, Eighth Air Force; Commander, Joint-Global Strike Operations Center
— William “Elvis” Bailey, Director, Department of the Air Force, Rapid Capabilities Office
— Thomas Jones, President, Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems

Moderator: Maj. Gen. Doug Raaberg, USAF (Ret.), Executive Vice President, AFA

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Guardian Development: Officer, Enlisted, and Civilians

— Brig. Gen. Matthew Cantore, Deputy Commander, Space Training and Readiness Command
— CMSgt. Karmann-Monique Pogue, Senior Enlisted Leader, Space Training and Readiness Command (STARCOM)
— Christina Parrett, Director of Civilian Policy and Programs for the U.S. Space Force
— Brett Funck, Director of Force Development for the U.S. Space Force (S1D)

Moderator: Charles Galbreath, Senior Resident Fellow for Space Studies at the Mitchell Institute’s Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence (MI-SPACE)

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Battle Management

— Patrick “Mike” Shortsleeve, Vice President, DOD Strategic Development, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems
— Joshua Conine, Director, Space C2 Growth, SAIC
— Akash Jain, CTO and President, Palantir USG

Moderator: Shannon Pallone, Program Executive Officer for Battle Management
Command, Control & Communications

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United Forces and Families: Senior Leadership Perspective

— Gen. David W. Allvin, Chief of Staff of the Air Force
— Gina Allvin, Spouse of the Chief of Staff of the Air Force
— Gen. B. Chance Saltzman, Chief of Space Operations
— Jennifer Saltzman, Spouse of the Chief of Space Operations
— CMSAF David Flosi
— Katy Flosi, Spouse of CMSAF
— CMSSF John Bentivegna
— Cathy Bentivegna, Spouse of CMSSF

Moderator: Lt. Gen. Burt Field, USAF (Ret.), President & CEO, AFA

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